Stadium



K. TROEGER Sept. 18, 1934.

STADIUM Filed' July 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I g w M,

Sept. 18, 1934. TROEGER 1,974,223

' STADIUM Filed July 16, 1932 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 8, 1934. K. TROEGER1,974,223

STADIUM Filed July 1 6, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 18, 1934. OE ER1,974,223

STADIUM Filed July 16, 1932 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fave/ 250i? m4 \ZWPatented Sept. 18, 1934 STADIUM I Karl Troeger, St. Moritz, SwitzerlandApplication July 16, 1932, Serial No. 622,943

In Switzerland July 21, 1931 9 "Claims.

This invention relates to stadiums comprising seats which are adjustablein height by means of collapsible supports that are each composed of twopivotally connected relatively adjustable sup- 5 porting members andfastened to a stationary base member.

The object of the invention consists in providing a perfectly safeassembly for the stadium wherein the individual seats and rows of seatswill not be shifted even on the occurrence of a panic and, nevertheless,the stadium inclusive of the seats is adapted to be readily erected anddisassembled again in a simple manner. i

This result is attained according to the present invention by combiningin the stadium a number of benches, which are disposed behind eachother, into a front stationary group of rows of seats by means of commonbase members resting on the ground and subdividing the following rows ofseats in groups of an equal number of benches the next succeeding groupof benches inclusive of the basemembers being placed on 'a platformwhich rests on transversely directed adjustable platform supports of asimilar type as the benches andon each of the platform supports of eachfollowing group of benches an additional platform support is "placed insuch manner that a readily demountable stadium is formed which rises upstep by step from the frontgroup of benches resting on the groundbackwardly and which comprises stationary benches the supporting membersof which are connected to the related base members by means ofdetachable fastening means.

In the accompanying drawings several constructional forms of theinvention are illustrated byway of example onlyin which Fig.1 is a crosssection of the stadium;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the stadium through a passagewaythereof;

Fig. 4 is a view of the end of a bench on a larger scale showing itssupporting members in different relative positions of adjustment;

745 Fig. 5 is a cross section of the bench;

Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section of a modified construction of aplatform for the reception of a group of benches;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is aside view of Fig; 7.;

Fig. 9 shows a detail of the fastening device on'a larger scale; 1

Fig. 10 is a crosslsection of. the fastening device;.

Fig. 11 is a section of a base plank on the line HXI in Fig. '7;

Fig. 12 is a plan View of Fig. 11;-

Fig. 13 illustrates a plan view of a modification of the base plank;

Fig. 14 is a cross section of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a cross section of a bench including a back rest, and I Fig.16 is alongitudinalsection of Fig. 15.

Referring to Figs 1 to 3 of the drawings, the stadium shown in thesefigures comprises in each section T2, T3, T4 and soforth three groups ofbenches G1, G2 and G3 respectively each including six benches. Thefrontgroup G1 is set directly on the ground, the next following middle 7group G2 on a flooring supported by a platform supporting structure andtherear group G3 on a flooring supported by two superposed platformstructures. With this arrangement each pair of benches B1, B2, B3 ofeach group is commonly 7 carried by two base planks U, thus forming aself-contained unit which effectively resists being removed or shiftedor thrown over by the spectators'occupying the-stadium. This is a highlydesirable feature particularly when a panic should arise among thespectators. The two benches of rleachi pair of benches are adjusted tothe same eve The construction of the individual bench is evident fromthe Figs. 4 and 5. The bench B is 5 provided with two seating boards 1separated in the middle by a longitudinal gap .and having edge rails 2'between which at both ends of the bench struts 3 are linked. -To theouter end of each strut 3 a strut i is pivotally connected by means of ahinge providing the foot of the leg constituted by the struts 3 and4.The outer end of the strut 4 is adapted to be brought to bear againstany-one of the wedges 51, 52, 53 which are disposed on the bench betweenthe rails 2. At the-foot portion each strut is provided with an aperture6 for giving access to the respective portion of the hinge pin '7. Foranchoring down two benches of this kind behind each other two base"planks U- disposed parallel to each other and spacedapart correspondingto the'distance between the foot portions of the legs are provided.

In this manner the six front rows of benches form in each section of thestadium an individual group G1 the base planks of which being layed naton the ground. I

The middle group G2 is .placed with its base planks U to bear on aplatform P2 formed by boards extending longitudinally of the stadium,this flooring in turn being carried by platform supports L (Fig. 8)disposed perpendicularly to the direction of the benches. Each platformsupport L is similarly provided with adjustable legs as the bench exceptthat the legs are adjustable into twodiiferent positions only (forinstance for enabling eliminating the efiect of uneven portions of theground or of a slope) and that no apertures are formed in the legs attheir foot portions. With the. rear group G3 of, benches two platformsupports L of similar construction are superposed for carrying theflooring supporting this group of benches. A stadium including threegroups of benches is sufiiciently deep for ordinary purposes, butobviously a fourth group may be added with three superimposed platformstructures when required.

Between every two pairs of adjacent sections of the stadium such as T3,T4 and T2, T1 (not shown) a passageway C of an approximate width of l m.is arranged. Steps 13 are provided at the flanks of the middle group G2for convenient access to the respective seats. A stairway 14 leads up tothe floor 15 between the platforms P2 of the rear group of seats G3 andat the same time to the hindmost benches of the middle group. Theplatform supports of the rear groups ofbenches are so positioned that asecond flooring 15 can be placed between these supports and the platformP2. This flooring serves at the same time for bracing the stadium in thelongitudinal direction.

Eachbase plank U may be provided with two notches. 18 of rectangularcross-section for receiving the lower end of the legs of the benches(Figs. 9 to 14) Each notch has formed in its middle a circular bore 18aextending to the underside of the plank.

Above the notch 18 a stirrup 19 made of flat steel is placed across thenotch 18 and screwed to the plank U. The stirrup is formed centrallyabove the bore 18a with a rectangular aperture 19?) and the remainingportions of the stirrup alongside of said aperture are downwardly 01fsetin the form of a staple 19a. The inner width of the staple 19a issufficient for accommodating the hinge pin 7 of the leg of the benchwith clearance. On the lower side of the offset part of the stirrup twohinge sockets 190 are fastened for carrying the hinge pin 20 whichserves as a bearing pinfor the pivotal thumb catch 21 the substantiallyenlarged lower portion 21a of which is adapted to enter the bore 18a.The catch 21 is provided with a lateral stop pin 22 for engagement withthe respective side of the oifset part of the stirrup for preventing thecatch from turning completely down.

In Figs. 6 to 8 a different construction of the platform is shownwherein each pair of base planks is adapted for receiving three benchesin stepped up relationship of their seats. For this purpose the modifiedbase planks U2 are each provided with three notches obliquely disposedto the longitudinal center line of the plank and the planks are situatedin converging relationship when looking from the rearward or highestbench towards the front the distances between the legs of the benchesvarying correspondingly. Otherwise the construction of the fasteningdevice is exactly the same as above described.

The Figs. 15 and 16 show a bench construction which is particularlyadapted for the rear row of benches.

The stadium bench as illustratedis provided with two seating boards 31on whichedge rails 32 are secured and the boards are separated from eachother by a longitudinal gap. Between the edge rails the legs arearranged. Each leg is constituted by a strut 34, which is linked to arod 33 interconnecting the two edge rails and a strut 35 linked to theouter end of the strut 34 by means of a hinge pin 3'7 and adapted to bebrought to bear against an abutment 36 of a series of, three, abutmentsof this kind... In this manner the height of the bench can be varied tosuit requirements. The hinge pin 37 is again secured on the base plankby means of a fastening or locking device.

For connecting the back rest 38 two supporting arms 39 are providedwhich are anchored in the gap between the two seating boards by means ofa T-shaped holding member 39a. The board 38 forming the back rest isheld in a rectangular aperture of the supporting arm 39 and secured inposition by means of a steel connecting strap 40 which is pivoted to thesupporting arm. For improving the lateral. stability the supporting armis formed with an enlarged, portion 39b. Depending on thelength of thebench two or three supporting arms are arranged.

It is obvious that the back rest and the supporting arms may be removedfrom the bench and mounted again in position for purposes of transportwithout any further arrangements.

Alternatively for the groups base members receiving all the benches ofthe respective group may be provided. 7

The described stadium is adapted to be assembled and disassembled in aminimum of time without the use of implements of any sort by unskilledlabour and without the assistance of trained workingmen. Further, withthe exception of the Stairways, and provided that the legs of thebenches and leg frame supports are completely collapsed, as alldemounted parts are flat the transport of the'stadium can be effected ina very simple manner with a minimum of vehicles.

The assembled stadium affords due to the upwardly inclined dispositionof the benches from the front to the rear an unobstructed sight from allthe seats.

Various modifications may be made by those skilled in the artwithoutdeparting from the invention as defined in the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a readily demountable stadium in combination, platform supportseach having a plurality of legs, means for adjusting the height of saidsupports, a flooring on the oppositely disposed side of said supportsfrom the legs, base planks adapted to rest on said fiooring,,a pluralityof benches, legs on said benches, means for adjusting the height of saidbenches, and means for detachably securing the bottom of the legs ofsaid benches on said base planks.

2. In a readily demountable stadium having a plurality of rows ofbenches arranged from the front to the rear of said stadium inincreasing height from the ground, a plurality of base planks resting onthe ground, the benches having legs, means for adjusting the height ofsaid benches, means for detachably securing the bottom of the legs ofcertain of said benches on said base planks, a platform supportpositioned'on the ground rearwardly of said base planks, means foradjusting the height of said support,.a flooring on said support, baseplanksresting onsaid flooring, others of the benches'being detachablyconnected to saidlast-named base planks, and means for adjusting theheight of said benches.

3. In a readily demountable stadium in combination, platform supports, aplurality of pairs of pivotally mounted, adjustable, strut members onsaid platform supports, the adjustment of the strut members effectingvertical adjustment of said platform supports, a flooring on saidplatform support, base planks resting on said flooring, a plurality ofbenches, means for adjusting the height of said benches, and means fordetachably securing the bottom of the benches to said base planks.

4. In a readily demountable stadium in combination, platform supports, aplurality of pairs of pivotally mounted, adjustable, strut members onsaid platform supports, adjustment of the strut members effectingvertical adjustment of said platform supports, a flooring on saidplatform supports, base planks carried by said flooring, a plurality ofbenches, a plurality of pivotally mounted, adjustable, strut members onsaid benches, adjustment of said strut members effecting verticaladjustment of said benches, and means for detachably securing the bottomof the benches to said base planks.

5. In a readily demountable stadium in combination, a plurality ofbenches arranged in parallel relation to each other, a plurality ofcommon base members for said benches, legs on said benches, means foradjusting said legs on said benches to regulate the height thereof, saidbase members having notches for receiving the ends of said legs, andmeans for detachably securing the ends of said legs in the notches ofsaid base members.

6. In a readily demountable stadium in combination, a plurality ofbenches, legs on said benches, means for adjusting said legs on saidbenches for regulating the heights thereof, common base members for saidbenches, said benches being arranged at increasing heights from thefront to the rear of the stadium, said base members having notches forreceiving the ends of said legs, and means for detachably securing thelegs in said base members.

7. In a readily demountable stadium in combination, a plurality ofbenches arranged in parallel relation to each other, legs on saidbenches, means for adjusting the legs on said benches for regulating theheight thereof, means for detachably securing the legs to base members,supporting members mounted on said benches, and a back rest connected tosaid supporting members.

8. In a readily demountable stadium in combination, a plurality ofbenches arranged in parallel relation to each other, a plurality oflongitudinal seating boards on said benches, said boards being spacedfrom each other to provide a longitudinal opening, legs on said benches,means for adjusting the legs on said benches to regulate the heightthereof, means for detachably securing the legs of said benches oncommon bas'e members, supporting members on said benches, a shoulderedholding portion on each supporting member adapted to engage the boardsadjacent said longitudinal opening for securing the supporting to saidbenches, a lateral enlargement on each support having bearing engagementwith one of the seating boards, and a back rest engaging the saidsupporting members.

9. In a readily demountable stadium as defined by claim 8, in which saidsupporting members are provided with a rectangular aperture and apivoted latch cooperating with each aperture for securing said backrests in position on said supports.

KARL TROEGER.

